MLB suspends Padres outfielder Cameron Maybin for PEDs

San Diego Padres center fielder Cameron Maybin became the first major-league player to be suspended for performance-enhancing drug use this season Wednesday when he tested positive for amphetamines.

Maybin, who already had tested positive once and received a warning, received a 25-game suspension without pay for testing positive a second time. Players who test positive for amphetamines are automatically given warnings the first time, and are subjected to subsequent testing and an automatic suspension if caught a second time.

"I have been undergoing treatment for several years for a medical condition, attention deficit disorder (ADD), for which I previously had a therapeutic use exemption (TUE),'' Maybin said in a prepared statement. "Unfortunately, in my attempts to switch back to a medicine that had been previously OK'd, I neglected to follow all the rules and as a result I tested positive.

"I want to assure everyone that this was a genuine effort to treat my condition and I was not trying in any way to gain an advantage in my baseball career. I understand that I must accept responsibility for this mistake and I will take my punishment and will not challenge my suspension.''

The Padres were notified earlier of the suspension and called up outfielder Jeff Francoeur from their Triple-A El Paso team.

"I'm disappointed in Cameron's violation of MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program,'' Padres president Mike Dee said, "but am pleased that he's taking responsibility for his mistake. The Joint Agreement was put into place to protect both the player and the game, and the Padres fully support it."

The suspension is just the latest jolt to the relationship between the Padres and Maybin, who has been a huge disappointment since signing his five-year, $25 million contract in 2012.

Maybin played just 14 games last season because of an array of injuries, and this season, is hitting just .247 with one home run and nine RBI in 62 games.

GALLERY: MLB SUSPENSIONS FOR VIOLATING DRUG PROGRAM

High-profile players who have been suspended for violations of MLB's Drug Prevention and Treatment Program since it was established in 2005: 2014 - 1B Chris Davis, Orioles, 25 games for amphetamines (Photo: Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports)